Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Psychology of Coaching

Here is a an excellent excerpt from “The Delaware Wing-T: An Order of Football” – Tubby Raymond & Ted Kempski. If you have never read the book, I highly recommend it. This is from the chapter on coaching psychology.

The ability
to communicate with the players is the most important attribute a coach can
have. Be honest and be yourself!

Two things
motivate: Fear of failure and anticipation of reward.

View
motivation from the players’ standpoint – be subtle, no one wants to be
manipulated.

Be sensitive to
individual needs even though football is a team sport. The most successful
motivating technique may be to help each player get what he wants!

Answer
questions before they are asked. A well-informed team doesn’t ask why.

Create an
atmosphere of “ownership”. The team belongs to the players, not the coaches.

Self-esteem
begins with a sense of autonomy. Make the players responsible.

Successful
pep talks are the result of certain circumstances and are not staged.